Fluid pressure responsive door operator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR.

ATTORNEZ y 7, 1959 R. KATZ FLUID PRESSURE RESPONSIVE DOOR OPERATOR Filed Dec. 23, v195a FIG. I.

- ROBERT KATZ.

July 7, 1959 R. KATZ FLUID PRESSURE RESPONSIVE DOOR OPERATOR Filed Dec. 2a, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBER T KATZ.

.X/LbY ATTORNE)? United States Patent" This invention relates to apparatus for automatically operating hinged doors, the present application for patent, therefore, being a continuation-in-part of my cope'nding application, Serial No. 567,618, filed February 24, 1 95 6, for Device for Automatically Operating a Door.

Heretofore, systems known or used for automatically -opening -and'closing doors were not entirely satisfactory,

for one reason or another. One of'the main objections to allof'the previously known devices is the requirementfor considerably more space than isusually available forsuchinstallation, thus entailing more expensive modifications and installation costs. In many'instances, the space factor precludes the installation of such automatic systems. This problem is present with those types of apparatus intended to be installed above the door, as we'll as similar apparatus intended to be installed below-the door; Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a completely automatic door operator that is extremely compact, readily installed above or below the door, and extremely-eflicient'in use. a 5 Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pressure operated device in which loss of the "operating fluid and fluid pressure are minimized.

' Afurther object of the present invention is toprovide "a fluidp'r'e'ssu'r'e' door operating 'system wherein the portions of the system immediately adjacent to the door to becon'trolled are completely contained within a sealed compact enclosure fitting into restricted areas with a resultant saving in space in suchareas where space is critical.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pressure door operating system of the above type "in which positive drive connections aremaintained be- *'tween= all of the working parts so that the door cannot be independently moved, such as by the wind, without encountering a resisting force suflicient to-retain the door in: the normally closed position.

additional object of the present invention is to provide an automatic door operating assembly of the type described, in which all of the working parts are contained within a shallow compartment having a multipart top closure which may be partially removed so as to gain access to certain of the working parts without "necessitating the removal of the door during certain adjustments thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pressure operating system for hinged doorsthat can be readily adapted for left and right hand use, above or below the door, so as to provide for maximum standardization and interchangeability of parts to accommodate all types of installations.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a door operator bearing the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and eflicient in operation.

The present invention contemplates the use of enclosed vessel'within which a pressure fluid and a fluid pressure Patented July 7,, 1959 2 Y responsive mechanism is disposed for transmitting-a unidirectional force,.this force is applied to one endlofa centrally pivoted rocker arm carried within the vessel, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to a yieldable' return spring device for. normally maintaining the rocker arm in an initial position. This rocker arm is secured to a shaft that is drivingly connected to a closure or door so as to control the movement thereof between open and closed positions. I

For other objects and for a better understandingof the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying'drawing, in which:

Fig. 1' is an isometric view showing the apparatus of the present invention installed'for operation of a door.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the operating parts of 'the apparatus shown' in Fig. 1', with the top closure plate of the" assembly removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the main operating parts of the assembly shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an exploded side elevational view of they assembly, with partsbroken away, showing the relationship between certain operating parts.

V vention;

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and

more particularly 'to Fig. 1' thereof, a door 5 of any desired construction, is provided with an operating arin '6 attached or fastened to. a bottom end thereof'by means of screws. (not shown). The bottom end of the door is recessed so as to accommodate such operating arm the outline. thereof, whereby a close fit may be made between the lower edge of the door and operating arm, with respect to the floor level. a

As is more clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, one end of the operating. arm. 6 defines a non-circular slotted opening 8, within which the male non-circular end 9 of a driving shaft 10 is received. The lower end of this. shaft 1'0-is supported for rotationupon abearing plate 11 disposed within the bottom of a shallow vessel 16 having end walls 15 and'side walls 18. A rocker arm 12 is secured intermediate its ends to the central portion of the operating shaft10 and has a central boss 13- that f defines a bearing for rotatable engagement within aslot or cut-out 17 in an intermediate web or support plate .it is hinged for support.

A piston rod 19 has a clevis 20 at one end that is pivotally connectedv by meansofa pivot pin 20a to one end of the rocker arm 12. A slide rod- 21, having one threaded end. 22, threadedly supports a stop nut 23 that serves as an abutment for one end of a compression coil spring 24' that encircles the central portion of the rod21 and abuts against a mounting plate 26 at the opposite end, through which mounting plate the adjacent end' of the slide rod 27 is slidablyrece'ived. The. threaded end 22 0f the slide rod is adjustably threadedly engaged with an internally threaded clevis 25 which is. also pivotally connected, by means of a pivot. pin 25a to the opposite end of the rocker arm 12 from the pivotal connection-to the piston rod 19.

The; inner end of the piston-rod 1'9; liesgintegrally con- I nected to a piston 32 that is slidably supported within '33 to forcefully return'the door to the normally closed position. a

The pressure cylinder 33 is maintained in a horizontal position within the vessel 16 by means of a pivot bolt 40 that is pivotally carried by inwardy extending support plates 38 carried by one of the side walls 16 of the vessel. A flexible fluid pressure line 39 connected at one end to a fitting 37 of the cylinder 33, is connected at the.

opposite end to a pressure fluid supply line 41 on the outside of the vessel 16, and accommodates the aforenientioned pivotal movement of the cylinder.

The line 41 is connected to the discharge end of the pump 48 that is driven by the motor 50. The delivery line' 51 is connected to the suction side of the pump 48 and communicates at the opposite end of the interior of the vessel 16. The supply line 41 and delivery line 51 are interconneced by means of by-pass line 53 in which there is installed a normally-open solenoid operated valve 54. The needle valve 46 disposed in the delivery line'51 is used to adjust the rate of closing of the door 5 automatically by regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid back into the vessel 16 through the normally open by-pass line 53 as the door returns to the closed position as the fluid is not permitted to flow back through the deactivated pump 48. An adjustable needle valve disposed in the wall of the cylinder 33 adjacent to' the front end thereof is used to control the rate of discharge of fluid through the port 36 from the interior of the cylinder when the door is opening, to thus control the opening speed of the door. An inwardly opening check valve 43 carried by the fitting 37 is provided for the purpose of permitting fluid to flow from the vessel 16 into the inner end of the cylinder 33 in the event that the door 5 is manually operated during the absence of. fluid flow into the cylinder in the usual manner of the supply line 39. The delivery line 51 communicates with the interior of the vessel 16 by means of a self-cleaning .screen 52 that filters out foreign particles that might otherwise damage the pressure fluid system. As fluid is drawn into the delivery line 51, the screen effectively stops all foreign particles before entering the delivery line 51. On the other hand, as the fluid returns through the by-pass line 53 and the delivery line 51 upon the closing of the door, such returning fluid effectively dislodges such foreign particles to open the interstices of the screen and thus provide for proper flow of fluid back into the line 51 during the next cycle of operation.

The parts located within the vessel 16 are sealed therein by means of a multi-part cover plate 56a, b and gasket 57. .While any desired type of pressure fluid may be used for operating this system, such as compressed air,

oil, water, or the like, hydraulic fluid has been found to be particularly useful for this purpose. Such hydraulic fluid is stored within the sealed vessel 16 and movable through the respective lines in the aforementioned manner. The multi-part closure 560:, b enables one part 56!) thereof to be permanently secured in assembled relationship between the arm 6 and the working parts of the unit, independently of the other part 56a that can be conveniently removed when the door is in an open position so as to gain access to the interior of the vessel and the working parts contained therein. This enables the adjustable needle valve 35, to be periodically checked so that the correct opening and closure speeds may be maintained at all times. The entire assembly of the .vessel 16, pump 48, and motor 50 may be situated below the .door which is to be operated automatically, or

secured above the door should such be desired. By

merely reversing the position of the respective parts in platforms 60 may cause, for example, switches 61 to close. The closing of these switches will energize the motor 50 and solenoid 54, simultaneously, to thus drive the pump 48 and to close the by-pass line 53 so that the pressure fluid will be withdrawn from the vessel 16 through the line 51 and delivered into the supply line 41 and flexible line 39. The pressure fluid flowing into the cylinder 33 through the adjustable needle valve 42 causes the piston 32 to move in the direction of the rocker arm 12' until the piston reaches the end of its stroke; In order to guard against the door closing and hitting an individual passing therethrough, a-time delay circuit may be connected with the switches 61. Fluid cannot pass back through the pump 48, whereby the door is held open until the solenoid 54 is deenergized, allowing the returning pressure fluid to flow into the line 51 from the by-pass 53. When the higher pressure in the cylinder 33 is dissipated by the flow of pressure fluid through the lines 41, 53, and 51, the tension of the helical coil spring 24 exerted against the nut 23 causes the rod 22 to move in the direction of the rocker arm 12, thus closing the door. Immediately after the solenoid valve 54 is in the open position, the piston 32 moves rapidly in the direction of the supply line 51, so that the door S moves at a fast rate toward the closed position.

As a safety measure, a number of normally closed switches 63 may be placed under a similar mat or bellows on the side of the door at which the door opens.

Since such switches are normally closed and are disposed in series relationship with the switches 61 on the opposite side of the door, the circuit is ordinarily under the complete control of the first mentioned switches 61. However, in the event a person stands upon the mat on the side of the door toward which the door opens, one or more of the series connected switches 63 will be opened,

thus opening the electrical circuit through the solenoid .would cause the piston 32 to move in the direction of the rocker arm 12, causing the pressure within the cylinder behind the piston to drop. A drop in pressure is counteracted by means of a check valve 43 which allows fluid to enter therethrough. As soon as the pressure differential between the cylinder 16 and conduit 41 drops below a predetermined setting, fluid flows from the vessel 16 into the conduit 41 through the valve 43, thus permitting an individual to open the door easily. After the individual has passed through the doorway, thetension of the spring 24 will cause the arm 22 to move in the direction of the rocker arm 12 and thus cause the piston 32 to move in a direction away from the rocker arm. As the piston 32 moves in the direction away from the rocker arm 12, fluid is displaced from the cylinder 33 and flows through lines 41, 53, and 51 and discharges into the vessel 16.

Whenever the parts need adjustment or servicing, it is only necessary to secure the door 5 in an open position, so that the large part 56a of the. closure can be unbolted from the vessel 16 and crossbar 58. This exposes the adjustable needle valve 35, to view, so that the aforementioned balance between the opening and of the present invention can be interchanged or reversed in the aforementioned ways to reverse the operation of the door, to change the door from a left hand to a right hand door, or toallow installation of the operating mechanism below or above the level of the door, as may be desired.

While this invention has been described with particular'reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not'to be-construed 'as-impartinglimitationsupon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A door actuating device comprising, in combination, a sealed device defining a pressurized fluid storage vessel, a cylinder pivotally supported at one end within said vessel, a piston slidably supported within said cylinder, a piston rod connected at one end to said piston and extending outwardly through the opposite end of said cylinder, a rocker arm pivotally supported intermediate the opposite ends thereof within said vessel, the opposite end of said piston rod being pivotally connected to one end of said rocker arm, a rod secured at one end within said vessel and having an opposite end pivotally connected to the opposite end of said rocker arm, a helical spring encircling said rod in abutment at one end with a stationary part of said vessel and at the opposite end with a portion of said rod, a driving shaft carried by said rocker arm for concentric rotation therewith, and an operating arm secured at one end to said driving shaft for rotation by and about said driving shaft.

2. A door actuating device comprising, in combination, a sealed device defining a pressure fluid storage vessel, a cylinder pivotally supported at one end within said vessel, a piston slidably supported within said cylinder, a piston rod connected at one end to said piston and extending outwardly through the opposite end of said cylinder, a rocker arm pivotally supported intermediate the opposite ends thereof within said vessel, the opposite end of said piston rod being pivotally connected to one end of said rocker arm, a rod secured at one end Within said vessel and having an opposite end pivotally connected to the opposite end of said rocker arm, a helical spring encircling said rod in abutment at one end with a stationary part of said vessel and at the opposite end with a portion of said rod, a driving shaft carried by said rocker arm for concentric rotation therewith, and an operating arm secured at one end to said driving shaft for rotation by and about said driving shaft, a supply conduit interconnecting the first end of the cylinder with the vessel and adapted to transfer fluid therebetween, a pump installed with said supply conduit and adapted to transfer pressure fluid from said vessel to the cylinder, said pump being positioned outside of said vessel, a motor positioned outside of said vessel and adapted to operate said pump, a discharge conduit connected to the supply conduit and conditioned to by-pass the pump whereby pressure fluid can flow from said first end of the cylinder to the vessel, the interior of said cylinder having communication through its second end with the interior of said vessel to permit the flow of pressure fluid back and forth between the cylinder and the vessel, and valve means positioned in the cylinder wall at its second end to regulate said back and forth flow of pressure fluid.

3. A door actuating device comprising, in combination, a sealed device defining a pressure fluid storage vessel, a cylinder pivotally supported at one end within said vessel, a piston slidably supported within said cylinder, a piston rod connected at one end to said piston and extending outwardly through the opposite end of 6 said cylinder; a rocker arm pivotally supported intermediate the oppositeends thereofwithinsaid vessel, the opposite end of said piston rod being?- pivotally connected to one end of said rocker arm,,-a -rod secured at one end withinsaid vessel and-having an opposite end pivotally connected to the'opposite' end ofsaid rocker arm, a helical spring encircling said rodin abutment v at one end with a stationary part of saidvessel'and-at the opposite end-with-aportion of said rod, a driving shaft carried by said rocker arm forconcentric rotationtth'erewith, and an operating'arm secured at one end to said driving shaft for rotationby; and about said driving shaft, a supply conduit interconnecting the first end of the 1 cylinder with the vesseland adapted to transfer fluid therebetween, a pump installed with said supply conduit and adapted to transfer hydraulic fluid from said vessel to the cylinder, said pump being positioned outside of said vessel, a motor positioned outside of said vessel and adapted to operate said pump, a discharge conduit connected to the supply conduit and conditioned to bypass the pump whereby pressure fluid can flow from said first end of the cylinder to the vessel, the interior of said cylinder having communication through its second end with the interior of said vessel to permit the flow of pressure fluid back and forth between the cylinder and the vessel, and valve means positioned in the cylinder wall at its second end to regulate said back and forth flow of pressure fluid, a normally opened solenoid valve being installed within said discharge conduit, a normally opened switch being associated electrically with said motor and said solenoid valve for simultaneous operation of the same, and a regulating valve disposed in said discharge conduit intermediate said cylinder and vessel adapted to regulate the flow of pressure fluid from the cylinder to the vessel and thereby control the speed of closing of such door, said regulating valve being positioned outside of said vessel.

4. A device comprising a sealed vessel containing hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic cylinder positioned within said vessel and having a first end pivotally secured thereto, a hydraulic piston disposed within the cylinder, a piston rod having a first end extending through the second end of said cylinder and attached to said piston and disposed within said vessel, a rocker arm pivoted intermediate the ends thereof within said vessel, a rod being pivotally connected to a first end of said rocker arm and positioned within said vessel, a second end of said rocker arm being pivotally connected to the second end of said piston rod, a helical spring being disposed around the rod and adapted to force the same toward the rocker arm, said helical spring associated with the rod being disposed within said vessel, a driving shaft having one end positioned outside of said vessel and operatively associated with the rocker arm for rotation therewith, a door arm disposed laterally on said driving shaft and adapted to be fastened to one end of a door, a supply conduit interconnecting the first end of the cylinder with the vessel and adapted to transfer fluid therebetween, a pump installed within said supply conduit and adapted to transfer hydraulic fluid from said vessel to the cylinder, said pump being positioned outside of said vessel, a motor positioned outside of said vessel and adapted to operate said pump, a discharge conduit being connected to supply conduit and positioned to by-pass the pump whereby hydraulic fluid can flow from said first end of the cylinder to the vessel, the interior of said cylinder having communication through its second end with the interior of said vessel to permit the flow of hydraulic fluid back and forth between the cylinder and the vessel, and valve means positioned within the cylinder wall at its second end to regulate said back and forth flow of hydraulic fluid, a normally opened solenoid valve being installed within said discharge conduit, a normally opened switch being associated electrically with said motor and said solenoid valve for simultaneous operation of the same, and a regulating valve disposed in said discharge conduit intermediate of I controlling the speed of closing such door, said regulating valve being positioned outside of said vessel.

5. A door actuating device as set forth in claim 3, wherein one end of said supply conduit is connected directly to said first end of said cylinder, the'opposite end of said supply conduit communicating with the interior of said vessel, and a screen surrounding said opposite end of said supply conduit blocking the ingress of foreign matter into said supply conduit from said vessel.

6. A door actuating device as set forth in claim 5,

'wherein said vessel is of generally upwardly opening hols r -s. low for-in, and a mnlti-part closure is secured to the top of saidvessel, each part of said closure being independently removable from said vessel to gain access to selected parts of the interior thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS Lum Mar. 5, 1935 2,276,338 Potter et al Mar. 17, 1942 2,283,577 Roby May 19,1942 2,311,864 Parsons Feb. 23, 1943 2,665,153 Teichmann Jan. 5, 1954 2,739,808 

